The head of Delaware County's Department of Emergency Services, Timothy Boyce, has been placed on administrative leave following a series of allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination. Boyce, who has been at the helm of addressing local calamities since 2016, vacated his post on April 26th, FOX29 reported. The ongoing investigations have thrust the county's emergency response apparatus into disarray as it navigates the absence of its leader.

A lawyer representing the whistleblowing women, Mark Schwartz, stated that the original complaint emerged under the Age Discrimination Act. An employee alleged that Boyce favored "certain good-looking younger women." According to KYW Newsradio, Schwartz elaborated on the pattern of behavior, which became evident when a second woman, Boyce's executive assistant, accused him of attempting to grope and kiss her. This incident led her to resign the following day and confront Boyce via a text message about his actions. Boyce's response, as per Schwartz, was an apology while also stating, "never my intention to come on to you."

The gravity of these accusations extends beyond interpersonal violations; they suggest an environment where power is wielded as a tool for harassment. The Delco Emergency Services head, responsible for coordinating with dozens of local agencies, stands accused of weaponizing his authority in profoundly troubling ways. The move to put Boyce on leave was likely welcomed relief for concerned employees. "I think they are happy that he's been put on leave. Some of them were really fearful of retaliation," Schwartz said, as per Action News.

While the Delaware County District Attorney's Office has been investigating the case, they have referred it to the PA Attorney General’s Office, indicating the severity of the accusations. Boyce, who heads a team of 125 employees as per the Delaware County Emergency Services 911 website, has yet to respond to requests for comment. As this story unfolds, the spotlight has shifted from Boyce's role in handling emergencies to the critical examination of his behavior within the department he once led.